Mobile hopper system

Abstract

A hopper assembly is provided including a hopper, a hopper base, the hopper being detachable from the hopper base, and a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe being fixable to the hopper and securable to the hopper base. A hopper assembly also is provided including a hopper, a first hopper base, and a second hopper base. The hopper is detachable from the first hopper base and movable to the second hopper base. A gathering device is also provided. A method is also provided.

1. A hopper assembly comprising:
 a hopper for feeding materials to a conveyor; 
 a hopper base, the hopper being detachable from the hopper base; 
 a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe being fixable to the hopper and securable to the hopper base and permitting the hopper to slide perpendicular to the conveyor; and 
 a spring-loaded clamp for securing the hopper shoe to the hopper base. 
 
     
     
       2. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the spring-loaded clamp includes a spring, a chamfered edge and a bolt for securing the clamp to the hopper base. 
     
     
       3. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a safety device for preventing the hopper shoe from sliding off the hopper base. 
     
     
       4. The hopper as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hopper shoe includes a bearing surface for sliding the hopper off the hopper base. 
     
     
       5. A hopper assembly comprising:
 a hopper for feeding materials to a conveyor; 
 a first hopper base; 
 a second hopper base; and 
 a rail on an operator side of the first hopper base; 
 hopper being detachable from the first hopper base in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor and movable to the second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       6. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a toggle clamp for aligning the second hopper base with the first hopper base prior to moving the hopper to the second hopper base. 
     
     
       7. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a safety device for preventing the hopper shoe from sliding off the hopper base. 
     
     
       8. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a pallet jack for moving the second hopper base. 
     
     
       9. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe being fixable to the hopper and securable to the first or second hopper base. 
     
     
       10. The hopper as recited in  claim 9  wherein the hopper shoe slides off the first hopper base and slides onto the second hopper base. 
     
     
       11. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 10  further comprising a spring-loaded clamp for securing the hopper shoe to the first or second hopper base. 
     
     
       12. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the spring-loaded clamp includes a spring, a chamfered edge and a bolt for securing the clamp to the first or second hopper base. 
     
     
       13. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising alignment guides for aligning the second hopper base with the first hopper base. 
     
     
       14. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the rail includes alignment pins. 
     
     
       15. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the second hopper base includes a latch for securing the second hopper base to the rail. 
     
     
       16. A method for moving a hopper comprising the steps of:
 loosening clamps connecting the hopper to a first hopper base; 
 sliding the hopper from the first hopper base to a second hopper base; 
 securing the hopper to the second hopper base; and 
 moving the second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising the step of:
 aligning the second hopper base to the first hopper base prior to the step of sliding the hopper from the first hopper base to the second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       18. method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising the step of:
 disengaging a safety device prior to the step of sliding the hopper from the first hopper base to the second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein moving the second hopper base includes lifting the second hopper base using a pallet jack. 
     
     
       20. A hopper assembly comprising:
 a hopper for feeding materials to a conveyor; 
 a first hopper base; 
 a second hopper base, the hopper being detachable from the first hopper base in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor and movable to the second hopper base; and 
 a toggle clamp for aligning the second hopper base with the first hopper base prior to moving the hopper to the second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       21. A hopper assembly comprising:
 a hopper for feeding materials to a conveyor; 
 a first hopper base; 
 a second hopper base; the hopper being detachable from the first hopper base in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor and movable to the second hopper base; 
 a hopper shoe, the hopper shoe being fixable to the hopper and securable to the first or second hopper base, the hopper shoe sliding off the first hopper base and sliding onto the second hopper base; and 
 a spring-loaded clamp for securing the hopper shoe to the first or second hopper base. 
 
     
     
       22. The hopper assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein the spring-loaded clamp includes a spring, a chamfered edge and a bolt for securing the clamp to the first or second hopper base. 
     
     
       23. A hopper assembly comprising:
 a hopper for feeding materials to a conveyor; 
 a first hopper base; 
 a second hopper base; the hopper being detachable from the first hopper base in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor and movable to the second hopper base; and 
 alignment guides for aligning the second hopper base with the first hopper base.